Molestation Case Against Ex-Officer Dismissed

A judge dismissed four child molestation charges Wednesday against a former San Diego police officer on a motion by a prosecutor citing lack of evidence.

The action by Judge Richard Huffman in San Diego Superior Court appears to end the case against David Roemer, 34, of Lemon Grove, a six-year Police Department veteran who was fired in May.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Burakoff told Huffman he could not successfully prosecute Roemer because of the “state of the evidence,” and urged a dismissal.

Roemer’s 12-year-old stepdaughter angrily testified at a May 23 preliminary hearing that he molested her on several occasions. Her dislike for her stepfather was readily apparent, prompting Municipal Court Judge Robert Cooney to remark to the prosecutor that he had a credibility problem with the witness.

The girl went to authorities after Roemer disciplined her for a sexually explicit letter she had written to a boy and for forging her mother’s signature on a detention note from her junior high school in Lemon Grove.

Roemer’s attorney, Charles Adair, said the girl made up the molestation story because she was angry after being disciplined.

Huffman dismissed the case “without prejudice,” which means the district attorney’s office can refile the case again. But Burakoff said he didn’t think that would happen.

“I think it would be a tragedy if he didn’t get his job back,” Adair said.

“They (the Police Department) never did their own investigation,” Adair said. “If they (had), they never would have terminated him.”

A police spokesman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Roemer now works as a security guard.